Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Finished

The Three Studios Quilt Challenge consisted of the word PUZZLE. I'm very glad I did this challenge. And a challenge it was.


Originally I thought of many different strip pieced blocks assembled with a large puzzle shape appliqued on. But it didn't seem to come together.




A friend had suggested I try rust printing on my old freezer. I did. I kept considering doing something with it. The dark shapes reminded me of a city scape. Another section reminded me of distant shrubbery. A day of fiddling and I had an intuitive piece on the wall. But was it too intuitive and could I do it? Enter major angst! As often happens with me I had committed and a deadline loomed. Just: Do it!




So I set aside my "what if's..." and just sewed things up with only a few tweaks. This is very different from anything I've ever done and I am not displeased with it.
I took photos of it on a light background and a dark background. I need a new monitor so I'm not sure which will show better. But I chose the colours based on the rusted fabric and stuck to more organic shaped fabrics that show various earthy grounds. Machine Quilting brings out the scene. My puzzle is all about why people choose to live where they live.




8 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow Elle! Well worth the wait - Your quilt is beautiful! Such clean simple lines but says so much!

I love the rusted fabric. My quilt is nearly all rsted fabric too!

Hugz

Vicki W said...

It's fabulous!

Gina said...

Fabulous quilt! I'm glad you posted the photo of your fabrics laid out. It really shows how your quilting created the story of this quilt. Great lay-out and movement.

Anonymous said...

Elle, this is fantastic!

Unknown said...

O O O O Ellen, my god, I love this!! Your stitching! Your fabrics! Oh yes!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Elle, this is incredible! Really, really great! Your quilting totally brings the whole thing to life...

Cheryl Arkison said...

Oh Elle, that is incredible! What a way to translate what you saw into what the rest of us can see.

geni said...

Wonderful done! I love the tonal colours, it is so peaceful.

p.s. Thank you very much for your comment on my interpretation of the word "Puzzle"